GOVERNMENT BLIND AND DEAF TO
AVALANCHE OF PUBLIC OPPOSITION AGAINST BEECH LOGGING PROPOSALS

"WE WONT TAKE THIS
LYING DOWN" - NFA

Today's announcement by national Ministers
David Carter and Tony Ryall to proceed with Timberlands ill-fated
Beech Scheme is one of the Shipley Governments most
outrageous anti-environmental actions as well as a grotesquely
obvious snub of massive public opposition.

Native forest Action is appalled that the
government has approved Timberlands Beech logging scheme without
the support of the public, and says it will continue to
"Fight them on the Beeches".

"The Shipley government has forced a
terrible Christmas present on New Zealand public with the
intention of washing their dirty hands of this issue before 1999.
The Government has no public mandate to go ahead with the Beech
Scheme. No analysis has been made of the submissions, as we know
they show overwhelming opposition. this announcement proves
beyond any doubt that the government had no intention of
listening to the public", said spokesperson Dean
Baigent-Mercer.

"The issue has always been that
Timberlands should never be allowed to log native forests again -
not about finding ways to convince the public it is
acceptable".

"Native Forest Action and opponents of
this logging nation-wide will not take this announce lying down.
whether it be by politics, economics or further public opposition
we will stop this native forest logging."

"The west coast has $80 million dollars
worth of pine plantations that can be exchanged for the native
forests under threat of logging worth $14 million with no loss of
jobs - this is what we have been promoting as a solution."

The government called for public submissions on
Timberlands Beech Logging Plans on the 7 October 1998. On the
deadline 6 weeks later, the government had received a record ten
thousand plus submissions for that period of time. NFA estimate
that a aproximately 9,000 - 10,000 submission voiced opposition
against the beech logging proposals by Timberlands West Coast Ltd
with only a handful of submissions in support.

"This is one of the gravest mistakes the
Shipley Government has made. It will cost them politically at the
next elections".

QUIET CONSERVATIONIST ISSUED WITH TRESPASS
WARNING FOR ATTENDING PUBLIC MEETING

Last nights public meeting in Reefton turned sour when
an NFA representative and education officer, Sean Weaver was
escorted out by a police officer and given a trespass warning for
simply attending and intending to quietly listen to Coast Action
Networks (CAN) perspective. Soon after two local people
from the Buller Conservation Group were ordered to leave.

NFA says the issue of Timberlands logging native forests will
only be solved by groups talking to each other and are
disappointed that CAN, the local MP, and local mayors
werent prepared to allow conservationists at the public
meeting.

"Its particularly ironic that Sean Weaver was
targeted because he is the passionate driving force who has been
strongly advocating to politicians to secure a good deal for West
Coasters when the native logging stops. Because it was a public
meeting it was appropriate for NFA to hear pro-logging
views," said spokesperson Dean Baigent-Mercer.

"We can achieve much more for West Coast development and
long-term employment if we work together."

Native Forest Action has been working with the authors of the Good
Wood Guide which presents alternatives to using tropical, or
New Zealand, native rainforest timbers. It promotes the use of
plantation grown timbers such as pines on the West Coast that
keep 400 local people employed.

"NFA has also put forward other alternatives to native
forest logging to nurture the West Coast economy, including
central government funding to for local sewerage schemes, local
ownership of the state pine resource, Buller pine plantings, rate
payments from conservation lands, and a levy on coal
exports."

Yesterdays announcement that
Tasmanian-based hardwood timber company Gunns has bought Carter
Holt Harveys (CHH) specialist hardwood processing plant in
Christchurch and is keen to process Timberlands beech is
concrete proof that very few coasters will be employed in
processing beech.

"One of Timberlands most persuasive
arguments to West Coasters has been that the beech logging scheme
will produce 200 new jobs. Yesterdays announcement proves
nearly all the processing will be done in Christchurch, with
profits leaving the region and New Zealand. This highlights
Timberlands supposed commitment to local jobs as a
barefaced lie," said Native Forest Action spokesperson Dean
Baigent-Mercer.

"This is the writing on the wall - West
Coasters will lose control of local resources. Overseas investors
are expressing interest in buying Timberlands, and even the beech
processing will go to a Tasmanian-owned company - along with the
profits."

"The only way to keep the forests, and
with them long-term employment for the West Coast, is for West
Coast people to work with conservationists to lobby the
Government to conserve the native forests in exchange for a
decent regional development package."

"Groups such as Coast Action Network (CAN)
that supposedly support regional development should now see how
they have been manipulated by Timberlands West Coast Ltd."

International environment group Native Forest
Network (NFN) have swung into action upon learning that
Tasmanian-based Gunns have bought Carter Holt Harveys timber
processing plant in Christchurch. NFN have said they will endorse
New Zealand beech boycotts in Australia and New Zealand.

Gunns plans to send half of native beech cut by
Timberlands West Coast Ltd offshore as whole logs, and process
half in Christchurch. If these plans proceed very few, if any,
West Coast sawmills would have access to West Coast beech.

"We take this acquisition of Carter Holt
Harvey's mill in Christchurch with a very dim view. This company
has no regard for the environment, or real jobs for New
Zealanders. Any profits generated in New Zealand will go straight
back to Tasmania," said Native Forest Network Southern
Hemisphere Representative Tim Cadman.

"Across Tasmania - and now it appears the
South Island too - precious Gondwana Beech forests are being
sacrificed to export markets. We urge New Zealanders to boycott
these ancient forest timbers."

"Native Forest Network will certainly be
looking to support any consumer campaigns developed by New
Zealand groups. This company is to be shunned by anybody who
loves forests".

"Gunns have a reputation of being
exceedingly hostile to the environment movement in Tasmania. They
are also exporters of Tasmania's precious old growth forests to
Japan in the form of unprocessed woodchips."

For further information contact: Tim Cadman NFN is a global
autonomous

A source within Timberlands West Coast Ltd
(TWC) has leaked information to Native Forest Action (NFA)
revealing that the SOE is being positioned for privatisation.

The source has revealed that three Japanese
companies have expressed interest in buying TWC - with one of the
overseas companies being the most likely contender.

"Our native forests are not for sale.
These forests don't belong to TWC, or the Government - but to
every New Zealander. The West Coast forests under threat of
privatisation are alive with threatened native birds, they are
the jewels in the West Coast's crown." said Native Forest
Action spokesperson Dean Baigent-Mercer.

"Recent public opinion has expressed that
Timberlands should not be logging any native forests. This is as
issue the public will not take laying down. NFA believes the vast
majority of New Zealanders would find it abhorrent that a
multi-national company could buy the cutting rights to some of
our last lowland rainforests."

"The possible privatisation of beech and
rimu cutting rights worth $14 million would be accompanied by the
cutting rights for $80 million of West Coast pine. This would be
a deliberate attempt to prevent initiatives to protect West Coast
publicly-owned native forests in exchange for vesting state-owned
pines to local control. The West Coast would miss out on much
needed regional development initiatives".

"If the cutting rights to the native
forests are privatised, it will cost the state more in the future
when they will forced to buy them back".

Legally, if Timberlands were to be privatised,
Ngai Tahu has first option of purchase. This was negotiated as
part of their recent Treaty of Waitangi settlement.

Members of Native Forest Action,
the Buller Conservation Group and Forest and Bird began a logging
road blockade at 7:30am today in the picturesque limestone
country of Charleston, south of Westport. The human blockade of
25 people prevented Timberlands loggers from getting to the
ancient rimu trees they wanted to fell.

The conservationists are demanding
an immediate moratorium on all native logging by government
logging company Timberlands until comprehensive biodiversity
surveys are conducted by the Department of Conservation. They are
also calling for a development package for the West Coast in
exchange for the protection of publicly owned native forests.

"The Government has given us
no choice but to take this action for not being responcible
guardians of our biodiversity" said NFA spokesperson Dr Sean
Weaver.

"Timberlands must be forced
by the Government to stop native logging immediately. Before any
further consideration of forest uses Native Forest Action, the
Buller Conservation Group, and Forest & Bird are demanding
biodiversity surveys conducted independantly from Timberlands.
This would provide concrete framework for protecting areas of
importance - at present this area is being logged without any
such knowledge".

"It is supreme hypocrisy for
Jenny Shipley to pontificate on the need to protect our
biodiversity while at the same time promoting the logging of
these precious native forests."

"The Government has
deliberately ignored public opinion on native logging and its PR
is obviously a fašade behind which they will continue to degrade
our nations natural heritage for a fast buck".

-"Beneath the present logging
is a labyrinth of spectacular caves, complete with stalactites,
moa bones and glow worms, in a limestone landscape that makes
this one of the most enchanting forests of the country. And they
are still logging it."

For further information please
contact Sean Weaver (03) 789 8734

Live coverage is possible from the
blockade by arrangement. Please ring the above number to do so.

The Buller Conservation Group, Native Forest
Action and Forest & Bird began a logging road blockade today
in the picturesque limestone country of Charleston, south of
Westport. The human blockade of about 25 people prevented
Timberlands loggers from getting to the ancient rimu trees
they wanted to fell. Banners were displayed with the slogans:
"Timberlands Rips Off Buller" and "Stop Native
Logging Now."

The conservationists are demanding an immediate
moratorium on all native logging by SOE Timberlands until
independent biodiversity surveys are conducted by the Department
of Conservation. They are also calling for a development package
for the West Coast in exchange for the protection of state owned
native forests.

Native Forest Action education officer, Dr Sean
Weaver said that local people can measure Timberlands lack of
commitment for local employment by carting Buller rimu to
Hokitika every day for milling and preventing local mills from
gaining access to the local timber resource.

"Timberlands is not the best option for
those West Coasters who are concerned about local development,
because the SOE simply picked the shortest route to profits for
themselves and their mates," Dr Weaver said.

"If Timberlands was really interested in
local employment it would have arranged milling contracts with
mills in the sub regions that grew the timber.

"I believe that it would be better for
West Coasters to work with the nations conservationists
(including the Buller Conservation Group) to secure a decent
development package in exchange for the protection of those
native forests that clearly deserve it.

"The writing is on the wall: the beech
scheme will not proceed. The next government will can it. If we
think ahead and work together we can ensure that the Coast
economy is not left stranded when that happens. In the process we
can help the Coast economy emerge from its outdated role as a
resource colony where the benefits of development continually
disappear to other regions."

"There are heaps of environmentalists
throughout the country who have responded positively to our
appeal to give the Coast a decent development deal in exchange
for the protection of native forests. They want these forests
protected and they will support employment initiatives that can
make it possible. We have a win-win opportunity staring us in the
face," Dr Weaver said.

A peaceful blockade today resulted in eight
arrests on a logging road in the picturesque limestone country of
Charleston, south of Westport. The five hour blockade of about 30
people prevented Timberlands loggers from getting to the
ancient rimu and beech trees they wanted to fell. Those arrested
are members of Native Forest Action, the Buller Conservation
Group, and Forest and Bird.

Native Forest Action spokesperson Dr Sean
Weaver said that the blockade demands included "an immediate
moratorium on all native logging by government logging company
Timberlands until comprehensive biodiversity surveys are
conducted by the Department of Conservation. We also propose a
development package for the West Coast in exchange for the
protection of publicly owned native forests."

"Protestors were arrested just before
lunch and taken to the Westport police station. The arrests show
how serious the situation has become with the Governments
blatant refusal to listen to public opinion on this issue. We
have been forced to try and stop the logging ourselves," Dr
Weaver said.

"It is supreme hypocrisy for Jenny Shipley
to pontificate on the need to protect our biodiversity while at
the same time promoting the logging of these precious native
forests."

"The Government has deliberately ignored
public opinion on native logging and its PR is obviously a
fašade behind which they will continue to degrade our nations
natural heritage for a fast buck."

"Beneath the present logging is a
labyrinth of spectacular caves, complete with stalactites, moa
bones and glow worms, in a limestone landscape that makes this
one of the most enchanting forests of the country. And they are
still logging it."

There is a photo available for us to email
publications that want it. For this or further information please
contact Steve Abel or Dean Baigent-Mercer on (03) 789 8734

Two Native Forest Action
campaigners locked themselves to a logging helicopter in Westport
early this morning and successfully managed to prevent the
aircraft from leaving the ground. The helicopter is used by
Timberlands to air lift logs from their logging operations in
West Coast forests. Bridget Gibb, NFA veteran of the 1997
Charleston tree sit, is locked to the helicopter wheel with her
arms through padded steel tubing, and campaigner Steve Abel is
attached to the rotor apparatus with a padded bicycle D lock
around his neck.

NFA spokesperson Dr Sean Weaver
stressed that "it is a non-violent direct action protest and
no attempt has been made to cause any damage to the aircraft. The
action is simply designed to prevent it from taking off. The
locks are padded to protect the paintwork on the chopper."

"The Government ignored
10,000 submissions opposing the logging operation so we are now
forced to try to stop it ourselves," Dr Weaver said.

"Timberlands sponges off a
taxpayer subsidy, pays a North Island helicopter company to
employ Russian pilots to remove rimu from Buller forests, which
is milled in Hokitika, turned into furniture in Christchurch and
sold at a premium in Auckland."

According to Dr Weaver the
economic problems on the Coast have not been caused by
conservation but conservationists often get the blame.

"The economic woes of the
Coast are the result of state and private sector restructuring
over the last 12 years. For example, between 1987 and 1991 1,454
state sector jobs had been axed. With the cutting of private
sector regional development grants many employers left the region
leading to further job losses with the closure of mills,
factories, banks and post offices," Dr Weaver said.

Dr Weaver said that
conservationists are being used as scapegoats for West Coast
economic woes.

"The anti-greenie hype is a
political smoke screen designed to hide the exploitation of local
people and local resources."

"The time is right to stop
the logging of public native forests and to secure a decent
compensation package for the West Coast people. The nations
environment movement is behind us and they will support a West
Coast development deal too."

"A good way to see the
Timberlands political strategy is to look at their PR and
advertising. The vast majority of Timberlands advertising
spending is on the Coast. But their markets are not on the Coast.
This advertising and PR budget is designed primarily to bend the
minds of locals into politically supporting them. The plethora of
simplistic and patronizing radio adverts is a case in
point."

Two Native Forest Action
campaigners locked themselves to a logging helicopter in Westport
early this morning and successfully managed to prevent the
aircraft from leaving the ground. The helicopter is used by
Timberlands to air lift logs from their logging operations in
West Coast forests. Bridget Gibb, NFA veteran of the 1997
Charleston tree sit, is locked to the helicopter wheel with her
arms through padded steel tubing, and campaigner Steve Abel is
attached to the rotor apparatus with a padded bicycle D lock
around his neck.

NFA spokesperson Dr Sean Weaver
stressed that "it is a non-violent direct action protest and
no attempt has been made to cause any damage to the aircraft. The
locks are padded to protect the paintwork on the chopper."

"The Government ignored
10,000 submissions opposing the logging operation so we are now
forced to try to stop it ourselves," Dr Weaver said.

"This helicopter has enabled
Timberlands to gain access to rich pockets of remote forest that
have been protected by their isolation until now. The helicopter
is not an innocent device for plucking trees like flowers from
the garden. It enables the systematic removal of centuries old
rimu and beech trees from our rainforests. The rotors
rhythmic drone is the death call for innocent plants and animals
that cling to survival in our delicate lowland forests."

"The logging of what little
is left of our public native forests is the crime of the century.
We want our nation to enter the next millennium with a clean
conscience."

"Fifteen years ago we went
anti-nuclear and it has been the pride of the nation ever since.
We need to take an equal pride in our native forests and protect
what is left of them on public land for future generations."

"No one is forced to degrade
the environment for a living. There are always alternatives if we
have the imagination and the political will."

Ltd from logging rimu and beech forests were
today arrested at the Westport Airport.

Two protesters were locked to the helicopter to
prevent the helicopter from flying: Steve Abel was attached near
the rotor blade by a kryptonite bicycle d-lock, while Bridget
Gibb lay flat on her back with her hands chained together and her
arms encased in 4-inch galvanised piping welded into a 90 degree
angle, near the helicopter's wheel. [all lock-on devices were
padded so no damage was done to the helicopter]

Support people were ordered by Police to leave
the tarmac, but refused through fear for the helicopter-attached
protesters' safety. These people were the first five to be
arrested, while other protesters peacefully moved away.

The d-lock around Steve Abel's neck was cut
with boltcutters at 9:25am.

"The success of this protest has been in
grounding the helicopter for a day, obstructing Timberlands
logging operations in beautiful forests of centuries-old rimu and
beech trees", said NFA spokesperson Dean Baigent-Mercer.

"This helicopter has enabled Timberlands
to gain access to rich pockets of remote forest that have been
protected by their isolation until now. The helicopter is not an
innocent device for plucking trees like flowers from the garden.
It enables the systematic removal of centuries old rimu and beech
trees from our rainforests."

"The logging of what little is left of our
public native forests is the environmental crime of the century.
We want our nation to enter the next millennium with a clean
conscience."

"We're doing all we can to end Timberlands
native logging operation. This is what the government should
already have done if it listened to the majority views of New
Zealanders. Ten thousand public submissions at the end of last
year made it loud and clear that native forest logging on public
land is not tolerable".

"Timberlands sponges off a taxpayer
subsidy, pays a North Island helicopter company to employ Russian
pilots to remove rimu from Buller forests, which is milled in
Hokitika, turned into furniture in Christchurch and sold at a
premium in Auckland."

A fighting fund has been set up to allow
members of the public to make donations towards fines Native
Forest Action campaigners will incur after recent arrests
blockading a logging road and preventing a logging helicopter
from working.

"The public response has been extremely
supportive of the our action to ground Timberlands logging
helicopter. Offers of help have been pouring in, including a
suggestion of having a 'fighting fund' to pay for the fines
incurred by those people who risked arrest and violence to stand
up for our publicly-owned forests."

"Donations can be made to Native Forest
Action, PO Box 836, Nelson"

"This action was taken as a serious
measure after many other avenues have been exhausted to stop
Timberlands native forest logging over the past 2 years,"
said Native Forest Action spokesperson Steve Abel, "Our
initial treetop forest occupation lasted for 5 months and drew
national attention to this logging. Last October the government
called for 'public comment' on Timberlands plans to expand their
logging operations into beech forests while continuing to log
rimu. The overwhelming public response was clearly against
Timberlands logging any more native trees".

"The Government have deliberately ignored
public feeling so Native Forest Action have been looked upon to
stop this environmental destruction. After long serious
consideration we decided to take yesterdays action, where two
campaigners attached themselves to the heavy-lift helicopter that
removes centuries-old beech, rimu and kahikatea."

The helicopter which is based in the central
North Island and employs Russian pilots and engineers is
contracted by Timberlands. Despite their claims that this form of
rainforest logging is "environmentally sensitive", what
it really means is that pockets of rainforest that were
previously inaccessible because of their remote location can be
logged. Trees are still felled to the forest floor and the canopy
is far from "intact", as quoted by Jenny Shipley in her
previous role as Minister of State Owned Enterprises.

Two buddhist monks from
the Plai-Na monastery in Thailand travelled to the West
Coast in to lend support to Native Forest Action workers
in their campaign against native logging on public land.

Arjan Kosin and Pairoj Prommar who
have been campaigning against deforestation in their home
country paid a visit to the southern part of Charleston
forest to see the masses of Rimu trees felled by the
Government logging company Timberlands since Christmas
(see picture).

The monks made headlines world
wide when their order of monks ordained trees in forests
threatened with logging, thereby making it very difficult for
Thai loggers to fell the trees because of their spiritual
beliefs.

Since 1996 the monks have also
been leading 500km peace or dharma walks around the Songkla lake
in southern Thailand. Local people join the walks and discuss
social and environmental issues and are encouraged to care for
and regenerate the lake environment.

"There seem to be parallels
between the New Zealand forest situation and our own" says
Arjan Kosin. "In Thailand we have only 20% of our forests
left and only a very small percentage of what remains is lowland
forest". In New Zealand only 23% of the original forest
cover remains, only a 10th of which is lowland forest.

Whereas one has to look back
hundreds of years to find 80% of New Zealand still covered in a
primeval mantle of temperate rainforest, Thailand was still 80%
covered in rich tropical rainforest only 20 years ago.

So called "development"
funding from the West has led to the massive deforestation of
Thailand since the Vietnam war, according to Pairoj Prommar.

Normally it is
"developed" nations that tell "developing"
countries to stop destroying rainforest. NFA campaigners thought
it was an interesting twist that in this instance ambassadors
from a so called "developing" nation are encouraging
"first world" New Zealand to stop logging rainforest.

Though most of Thailands
remaining forests are protected by law, Governmental corruption
means that logging still occurs in many forests. The monks say
the illegal logging in Thailand looks very similar to the
Timberlands operation where the biggest canopy trees are taken.
In Thailand it is normally Teak that is logged in New Zealand it
is ancient Rimu and now Beech.

Native Forest Action also showed
the monks the beautiful old growth forest flanking the Ohikanui
river (or big Oweka) in the proposed wilderness area beside the
Buller gorge.

The monks were moved by the beauty
and safety of New Zealand native forest. When the monks walk in
Thai forest they have to beware of wild elephants, cobras,
poisonous spiders, stinging ants and even the occasional tiger.

The monks signed the newly
released Buller Conservation Group and Native Forest Action
petition calling for an immediate end to native logging and an
alternative funding package for the West Coast. The
conservationists who met the monks found their wisdom and support
to be very inspiring and gifted them flax kete and organic rice
as a show of thanks.

Native Forest Action urges the Buller people
not to give up on state funded pine plantings in the sub-region.
The conservation group is responding to an announcement yesterday
by Jenny Shipley that the plantings promised to Mayor Pat
ODea are not going to happen. These plantings are part of a
regional development proposal that NFA have been pushing in
exchange for the protection of public native forests.

NFA education Officer Dr Sean Weaver said that
the conservation movement knows very well that many great things
happen only as the result of long and hard public campaigns. He
said that yesterdays announcement was only a minor drawback
and with a focused campaign the plantings will still go ahead.

"It is election year and anything can
happen. If we work together we will get the plantings. By
supporting a regional development package in exchange for the
protection of public native forests, the Buller people will gain
the support of the nations environmentalists for projects
like this.

Dr Weaver said that the announcement
demonstrates that the West Coast Accord is incapable of
guaranteeing anything for the West Coast people.

"The Accord has not and will not do
anything of substance for the Buller. It did not stem the tide of
job losses during the era of state and private sector
restructuring, it did not stop Timberlands carting Buller rimu to
Hokitika for milling, it did not keep banks, post offices and
hospital wards open, and it wont put pines in the ground for you
now. It would be better if we worked together to secure realistic
development gains for the Buller. If we do this now we will get
the support of thousands of New Zealanders from other regions who
want to see the public native forests protected."

In just 32 hours of street contact
the Buller Conservation Group and Native Forest Action have
collected almost 600 signatures in Westport on their joint
petition. The petition calls for a regional development package
in exchange for an end to the logging of publicly owned native
forests. More than 350 of the signatures were from West Coast
residents.

NFA spokesperson Peter Russell
said that despite Timberlands advertising and public relations
efforts, many local people are strongly opposed to the logging of
publicly owned native forests.

"We don't want job losses to
occur as a result of getting the forests protected."

"There are better ways to
enhance development on the Coast than degrading the natural
treasures that draw visitors to the region," Mr Russell
said.

Buller Conservation Group
spokesperson Pete Lusk said that about half of the people they
approached chose to sign the petition. "The rest were evenly
divided between those who didnt want to sign it and those
who were undecided. Were pleased with the number of people
who discussed the issues with us on the street, especially those
who go away, think about it and return to sign the
petition."

"We are keen for open
discussion on this issue because it is an important one for the
Buller. We who live here want the Buller to benefit far into the
future from present day decisions. If we all work together with
other conservation groups around the country we will achieve
it," Mr Lusk said.

The conservationists are also
collecting signatures on petitions to retain and improve services
at Buller and Greymouth Hospitals. "The government is as
much of a threat to our hospital services as they are to native
forests," Mr Russell said.

"NFA is also concerned about
wider social and environmental issues. This is why we have put a
great deal of energy into constructing and promoting a realistic
regional development package."

The development package in the
petition requests the transferral of ownership of state exotic
plantations on the Coast to local government, state funding for
new exotic plantations, a coal levy, state funding for local
sewage schemes and funding for regional pest control. Other
options include tourism development projects that take advantage
of the natural and historical assets of the Buller.

"Conservation can be very
positive for the regions development prospects,
particularly if we think ahead. Tourism has already proven its
worth in places like Punakaiki, Hokitika, and South Westland. We
need to build on this for Westport and Reefton," Mr Russell
said.

This morning, activists don tuxedos and ball-gowns to launch a
new book promoting alternatives to rainforest timbers. The 1999
Good Wood Guide will be launched on the footpath outside one of
Wellington's biggest rainforest furnitures retailers.

Wellington Rainforest Action Group (WRAG), Native Forest Action
(NFA) and guests will ceremonially launch the booklet. The guide
explains which kinds of timber are 'good', where they can be
bought, and which architects and builders have made a commitment
to not using wood from ancient ecosystems.

The campaigners will then visit about eight other
central Wellington rainforest furniture sellers, to present them
with free copies of the guide, and ask if they would like to
display a sign in their shop saying they have alternatives to
rainforest timbers available.

"Most people want to help save rainforests,
not destroy them. The Good Wood Guide provides consumers with
practical, positive options," says Katy Brown of
WRAG."The guide can be found on the web at http://www.converge.org.nz/gwg"

"A lot of buyers have been tricked by fake
recycled rimu, and false claims of 'sustainable management'. This
guide should help set the record straight," says Dean
Baigent-Mercer, veteran NFA campaigner for the West Coast
forests.

If you'd like more information, please contact
Katy Brown at 04-385-6728.

If you are keen to purchase the hard copy Good Wood Guide, it
costs $6 + $1 for p&p. Cheques and orders can be sent to:
Good Wood Guide, Wellington Rainforest Action Group, PO Box
119-64, Wellington.

On Monday, nine protestors from Native Forest Action, Buller
Conservation Group and Forest and Bird Protection Society
appeared in Westport District Court charged with intimidation and
trespass. Judge Ryan found those facing intimidation
charges not guilty and spoke of a noble tradition of protest in
New Zealand before discharging three protestors without
conviction for trespass at Westport Airport.

NFA spokesperson Peter Russell, who faced both
the intimidation and trespass charges, said "the judgements
vindicated our belief that we were taking part in legitimate
peaceful protests which are a very important part of a democratic
society. Protests like these helped give women the vote,
stop nuclear ships coming to New Zealand and put an end to
aparthied."

Eight protestors faced charges regarding their participation in a
blockade of the Four Mile logging road in January. Judge
Ryan found that the protestors' peaceful blockade could not be
described as "forcibly" preventing loggers from getting
to their work. "We have a strict policy of
non-violence," said Mr Peter Russell.

Evidence of the good-humoured nature of the
protest included descriptions by both Timberlands contractors and
police of respectful and amicable interactions between all
parties at the blockade. In evidence given by a Timberlands
contractor it was said that one of the loggers accepted an apple
offered by the protestors. Photographic evidence showed one
police officer trying on a kiwi mask being used by the
protestors.

During the blockade jokes were made by police
about the white heron chick costumes worn by some of the
protestors. Sergeant John Canning agreed it was possible
that during the blockade he had said the police did not have a
frying pan large enough for the "chicken".

Three protestors faced charges for trespassing on
the Westport Airport carpark in support of fellow campaigners who
had locked themselves onto Timberlands' logging helicopter in
February. They gave evidence that they had refused to leave
because they were concerned about the safety of the two people
attached to the helicopter. They also wanted to ensure no
damage was done to the helicopter which could later be blamed on
the protestors.

"Our right to protest peacefully against
Timberlands' destructive logging practices has been vindicated
and we will continue our campaign until the logging is
stopped," Mr Russell said.

At a depositions hearing yesterday it was
determined that the trial of the two protestors who attached
themselves to the helicopter is not likely to be held for several
months.

This morning Native Forest Action campaigners erected a startling
billboard, which depicts the sun rising over a tree stump with
the words: "New Zealand. First country in the world still
logging rainforests in the new millenium."
This action launched the group's election campaign which will
involve posters, protests and other publicity to remind voters of
National's distressing environmental record.

"The target of this campaign will be Jenny Shipley because
the Prime Minister is the most rigid supporter of Timberlands'
native forest logging in government," said Native Forest
Action spokesperson Dean Baigent-Mercer, "With Jenny Shipley
stridently in favour of Timberlands' logging we've realised that
the only way to stop the trees falling is a change of
government."

"Government hypocrisy has reached a crescendo in recent
weeks with the Conservation Minister announcing conservation
measures on Stewart Island at the same time as allowing state
company Timberlands to expand its logging on the West
Coast."

"The government deliberately rushed the Forests Amendment
Bill through parliament under urgency three weeks ago. If passed,
the Bill will see us turning back the clock to the 1970s and '80s
by allowing woodchipping of our native forests for paper."

"Even harder to believe, the proposed law would allow the
export of whole native logs, with no New Zealand
processing."
Submissions on the Forests Amendment Bill close today at 5pm.

Native Forest Action campaigners dressed in
overalls hung their eyecatching banner in front of the daily
commuter traffic down the Wellington end of the old Hutt Road at
8am.

The crown research institute today published a
scientific model which describes the effect that taking logs from
beech forests will have on the overall composition of the forests
over time.

"The Landcare report shows that under Timberlands' beech
logging model, the forests will be severely depleted of older
trees in only a few years," said NFA spokesperson Dean
Baigent-Mercer. "The report discredits Timberlands' claims
to sustainability."

Landcare's beech logging model, designed by Dr Murray Efford from
Christchurch, is available free on its website and Landcare's
chief executive Andy Pearce has said the CRI published it to
enable public debate on the issue. Native Forest Action welcomes
this move and urges the government to pay attention.

"There has been immense public interest in the issue, but
the government has not heeded concerns that Timberlands' model is
unsustainable," said Dean Baigent-Mercer.

"The public has only had Timberlands' word on the soundness
of its plans, which is obviously biased. It is good to see
Landcare publishing its scientific information in a publicly
accessible forum.

"Last December the government approved Timberlands' beech
management plans in principle, without any scrutiny into the
scientific accuracy of its plans, let alone any acknowledgement
of the 10,000 members of the public who put in submissions
opposing the scheme.

"And now the government is attempting to railroad through
amendments to the Forests Amendment Act to lock in the export of
beech woodchips, and the trashing of other Timberlands forests,
before they get voted out in the election.

"Native Forest Action wants the government to pay attention
to Landcare's report and to put a stop to Timberlands'
unsustainable beech logging scheme," said Mr Baigent-Mercer.

A $4,000 donation to Coast Action Network (CAN) from the Grey
District Council has been likened to "throwing money down
the can" by Native Forest Action (NFA).

On Monday 9 July, the Grey District Council voted to pay CAN
$4,000 from its discretionary grants fund. This follows a
donation last month for the same amount from the Westland
District Council.

"For a District Council to throw hard-earned ratepayers'
money to a group that apologises and fronts a company's wishes is
completely inappropriate," said Dean Baigent-Mercer of
Native Forest Action. "It means legitimate local projects
will miss out on essential funding."

"I'm sure most West Coasters see through CAN's shallow
references to other industries, such as farming and coal mining,
and realise they exist purely for Timberlands' sake. It's
reached the point where most people can't tell CAN and
Timberlands apart. CAN is Timberlands' trained puppy who defends
its master whenever Timberlands says 'jump'".

"The real insult for West Coasters is that while CAN is
trying to convince everyone that Timberlands' logging plans are
ecologically sustainable and essential for the local economy,
Timberlands is plotting how it can best be privatised."

Peter Russell, NFA's Conservation Officer in Westport said,
"It's not hard to see who CAN really represents. CAN
routinely claims NFA wants to demolish the Coast's 'forestry
industry', even though we are promoting plantation
timber production as an acceptable alternative."

"Most of CAN's propaganda and so-called 'public' meetings
are focused on preserving Timberlands' native logging operations.
Their spokespeople often claim that all people attending their
meetings support Timberlands, even though many West Coasters
strongly oppose them and only attend their meetings out of
concern for the West Coast's economic and environmental
future," said Mr Russell.

"Rural and urban folk up and down the Coast have been
contacting conservation groups for help because they are angry
and frustrated with Timberlands' destructive and wasteful logging
activities and also being misrepresented by TWC and CAN."

The Buller District Council recently rejected a similar
application from CAN for funding.

A book released today contains hundred of pages of allegedly
leaked documents which some observers say could be damaging for
the Government and Prime Minister, Jenny Shipley.

The documents are contained in a book "Secrets and
Lies," written by researcher Nicky Hager and Australian
journalist, Bob Burton.

The book details a campaign by the company, Timberlands, to shift
policy in favour of native beech logging on the West Coast of the
South Island. Timberlands Limited is a state-owned enterprise,
and was created to manage all state-owned production forests.

In a response to a written Parliamentary question last month, Mrs
Shipley denied any staff in her office were involved in relations
between Timberlands and the Government.

But the documents in "Secrets and Lies" show that Mrs
Shipley's executive assistant kept Timberlands briefed on
minister's meetings and government activity over the issue.

Native Forest Action is shocked by the revelations in Secrets and
Lies by Nicky Hager and Bob Burton, and says that Timberlands has
lost all right to have control of public native forests.

"Timberlands cannot be trusted with our native forests. Now
that the truth behind Timberlands' anti-environmental campaign
has been revealed, there is no option but for the government to
stop the logging immediately," said Native Forest Action
spokesperson, Dean Baigent-Mercer.

"We knew there was some sort of anti-environmental public
relations campaign against us, but we had no idea just how
far-reaching and orchestrated the campaign has been."

"The book shows that all the attacks and slurs against us
during the last three years have been part of a calculated PR
campaign to keep Timberlands' native forest logging going at any
cost," said Mr Baigent-Mercer.

"We find it hard to see how the government could allow the
senior staff of Timberlands to retain their jobs after these
revelations."

"We want Mrs Shipley to take full responsibility for this
outrageous manipulation of the public and the inappropriate
spending of public funds. The issue rests squarely with
her."
ENDS

The Green Party is calling on State Owned Enterprises Minister
Tony Ryall to initiate an investigation into Timberlands
following accusations made today by author Nicky Hager in his new
book Secrets and Lies.

Hager's book reveals how the SOE Timberlands and the public
relations company Shandwick have orchestrated a campaign to gain
support for native forest logging on the West Coast.

"The lobbying, the manipulation, and activities which verge
on the subversive are what you would expect of a trans-national
corporation, not a state-owned enterprise. It is vital that Mr
Ryall sets up an independent inquiry to carry out a thorough
investigation of these extremely serious allegations.

"The timing is crucial as Parliament is currently
considering legislation which would allow Timberlands to rip out
thousands more trees from pristine native forest and permit the
export of native woodchips.

"The Shandwick revelations also bring into question the
integrity of Timberland's claims about the sustainability of
their proposed beech scheme," he said.

The Prime Minister, Jenny Shipley, said today she had no response
to claims her executive secretary kept Timberlands briefed on
attempts to change the government's policy on logging native
beech.

A book released today called "Secrets and Lies"
contains hundreds of pages of leaked documents, some of which
show the Prime Ministers assistant kept Timberlands briefed on
minister's meetings and government activity over the issue.

Last month Mrs Shipley denied in reply to a written Parliamentary
question that her staff were involved.

Meanwhile the state-owned forestry company Timberlands denies it
has been using public money to try to change the Government's
policy on logging native beech.

The company said it had supplied information to government
officials, but had not lobbied to change the direction of the
policies.

The Prime Minister faces a grilling in parliament next Tuesday
over her involvement in Timberlands' public relations activities.

A new book published today by Nicky Hagar and Bob Burton details
substantial evidence of significant contact and cooperation
between Timberlands and Mrs Shipley's office, despite the prime
ministers assurances to parliament that no such contact occurred.

The Prime Minister has today been refusing to make any comment on
the issue, but Alliance environment spokesperson Phillida Bunkle
says the Alliance would challenge the prime minister on the
issues in the House when it resumes sitting next week.

'The book Secrets and Lies exposes very damning evidence that
answers given to parliament by the prime minister did not give a
complete picture. This is the prime minister who wasn't sure
about her dinner with Kevin Roberts and who made up her
statements on television about John Hawkesby's severance pay. Now
there is another serious blow to her credibility.'

Phillida Bunkle said she would lay a formal complaint with the
Auditor-General and the State Services Commission over
Timberlands million-dollar PR campaigns.

'Timberlands is essentially a government department. It has no
role in trying to shape public opinion in support of cutting down
ancient trees. Its job is to carry out government policy, not to
make it.

'Extravagant spending on public relations to manipulate public
opinion is unacceptable and appears to be specifically forbidden
by the Auditor's rules on government advertising.'

Suggestions that a fake bomb was planted on a Timberlands
helicopter in a dirty tricks stunt to smear environmentalists
with an 'eco-terrorism' label should also be investigated,
Phillida Bunkle said.

She says the police should launch an investigation into whether a
false complaint was laid over the bomb.

'There needs to be a very thorough police inquiry and an
independent review by outside officers of the investigation to
date. Making a false complaint to police is a very serious
offence,' Phillida Bunkle said.

Conservationists say Prime Minister Jenny Shipley's statements
implying that her Government has ended logging of Buller forests
are misleading when Timberlands West Coast Ltd has in the last
month begun logging the magnificent and largely untouched Orikaka
Forest.

"It is a nonsense to suggest that Government has ended the
logging of Buller forests when in July 1999 Timberlands began
logging the 6,400 ha Orikaka Forest on the north bank of the
Buller, which has never previously been logged by the
company. Eighty five percent of Orikaka Forest is pristine
old growth forest which supports more than half a dozen native
species threatened with extinction, including great spotted
kiwi," said Forest and Bird field officer Eugenie Sage.

"The cut-off date set by Government for the heavy logging in
the Buller is December 2000. By then Timberlands will have
ripped the heart out of Orikaka Forest by logging between 6,000
rimu trees (Timberlands' estimates) and 12,000 trees (Forest and
Bird's estimates)."

The Forests Amendment Bill now being considered by the
Transport and Environment select committee endorses such logging.

Ms Sage said Timberlands' claims that it is "supplying
information", not lobbying, are scarcely credible given its
extravagant spending on public relations.

In the year ended 31 March 1998 Timberlands spent $697,200 on
public relations consultants, publications and sponsorship.
Staff salaries and the company's in-house PR costs are on top of
this. (Figures from report to the Primary Production select
committee on 25 September 1998.)

"What private company, particularly a small forestry company
of Timberlands' size with around 45 staff, spends 10% of its
revenue on public relations?"

"The high proportion of revenue devoted to public relations
expenditure is further evidence that Timberlands long ago crossed
the line between providing information to Government and engaging
in active lobbying. In so doing it has attempted to
manipulate public, media and political opinion in order to get
support for its beech logging scheme and to justify the continued
destruction of Buller's rimu forests," Ms Sage said.

Timberlands' revenue from rimu and beech log sales in the year
ended 31 March 1998 totalled $10,355,000. (This comprises
$10,046,000 from rimu sales and $309,000 from beech sales).

The Labour Leader Helen Clark says the controversy over
Timberlands demonstrates a breakdown in appropriate political
relationships, even if no laws have necessarily been broken.

Author Nicky Hager has alleged in a book that the staff of the
Prime Minister have assisted the state owned enterprise,
Timberlands, in political lobbying during her period as the
Minister of SOEs.

Miss Clark said that Ministers should have an arms length
relationship with the boards of any SOE, whereas she says this
situation developed into direct political lobbying.

She said the lobbying has involved attacks against the New
Zealand Labour Party, which is in the process of considering a
policy at odds with Timberlands' desire to prolong widespread
native forest logging.

"It is hard to think of any precedent for a state-owned
enterprise, or any Crown agency, or government department running
a public relations campaign against the policies of an opposition
party," she said.

Alliance MP Phillida Bunkle said she would lay a formal complaint
with the Auditor-General and the State Services Commission over
Timberlands million-dollar PR campaigns.

"Timberlands is essentially a government department. It has
no role in trying to shape public opinion in support of cutting
down ancient trees. Its job is to carry out government policy,
not to make it," she said.

However Prime Minister Jenny Shipley has dismissed any suggestion
of a conspiracy to change policy.

Shandwick, Timberlands' Wellington public relations company,
should apologise to New Zealand for all the secretive
manipulation it has done for Timberlands, said Native Forest
Action spokesperson, Dean Baigent-Mercer.

Native Forest Action and others are protesting outside
Shandwick's Wellington office at lunchtime today (12.15pm to 1pm)
to call upon Shandwick to apologise, and to highlight to New
Zealanders that these shameful practices are not acceptable.

The book, "Secrets and Lies" by Nicky Hager and Bob
Burton, holds proof of this public relations company's unethical
practices. "Since 1991 Shandwick has advised Timberlands to
adopt many unethical and subversive public relations tactics and
strategies. There seemed to be no consideration of ethical
boundaries to what they were prepared to do," said Mr
Baigent-Mercer.

- Shandwick has acted as a political lobbyist for Timberlands in
Parliament, which is unacceptable behaviour for a state-owned
company, or indeed any company.

- Shandwick recommended the creation of a community front group
as a 'West Coast voice' arguing for Timberlands' agenda. (p.157).
Later, the company drafted letters for Timberlands to pass on to
'independent' West Coast people in the front group to sign.

- Shandwick consultant Rob McGregor used his contacts in the
Civil Aviation Authority to help head off a CAA investigation
into an incident where Heli Harvest, Timberlands' helicopter
contractor, put a tree-sitter' s life at risk.

- Shandwick infiltrated environment groups gather information.

- Shandwick attacked the funding sources of environment groups
opposed to the logging. It looked for 'dirt' on the Body Shop,
who had given money to Native Forest Action, and then tried to
get a business paper to write a damning story (p. 51).

"There are many other examples of dirty dealings
documented in the book, the evidence for which all comes from
Shandwick's own internal papers."

"Shandwick should apologise to those it has manipulated,
to environment groups it has harassed, and to the New Zealand
public who it has deceived," said Mr Baigent-Mercer.
"The company should be held to account for these tactics
which are not acceptable in New Zealand."

"We are protesting because we were the target of many of
their unethical practices. As people exercising our public right
to advocate for the protection of the forests, we find the role
this public relations company has played to attempt to denigrate
our campaign highly objectionable and totally unacceptable,"
said Mr Baigent-Mercer.

FORMAL COMPLAINT TO BE MADE TO PUBLIC RELATIONS INSTITUTE OVER
TIMBERLANDS' PR CAMPAIGN ON FRIDAY MORNING

20 August

Bob Burton, co-author of Secrets and Lies, will deliver a formal
complaint to the ethics committee of the Public Relations
Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) tomorrow morning requesting that
they investigate the PR Timberlands campaign for breaches of the
Institute's Code of Professional Practice.

Bob Burton has extensive experience writing, commenting and
lecturing on the PR industry in Australia and is visiting New
Zealand for 10 days for the launch of the book.

"PRINZ should investigate Timberlands' PR advisers over
likely breaches of at least eight of the Institute's ethical
guidelines for PR practitioners", Bob Burton said.
"This is an important test case for whether the public
relations institute is prepared to ensure its members uphold 'the
highest standards of honesty, accuracy, integrity and
decency'".

"I am sceptical about the ability of the the PR industry to
self-regulate itself and believe the public should watch closely
to see how the Institute handles the apparent unethical behaviour
in the Timberlands case."

Particularly aspects of the Code of Professional Conduct that I
beleive you should direct your attention to include the following
provisions:

- "Conduct their professional activities in accord with
the public interest and abide by the laws affecting the practice
of public relations and business";

- "Adhere to the highest standards of honesty, accuracy,
integrity and decency";

- "Not knowingly disseminate false or misleading information
and act promptly to correct an erroneous communication for which
they are responsible";

- "Not abuse the channels of public communication or the
process of Government";

- "Always conduct themselves and their businesses in a
manner that reflect favourably on the practice of public
relations and the Insitute, and encourage other practitioners to
do so too";

- "Always fully and publicly disclosing any client or
business interest in all published editorial work";

- "Be prepared to identify publicly the name of the clients
or employer on whose behalf any public communication is
made"; and

- "Be committed to uphold, and where necessary, enforce
the Code, and inform the Insitute of any evidence that a member
may have breached the Code".

Protest at Civil Aviation Authority: shonky investigation looks
like it was swayed by lobbying

This morning Native Forest Action campaigners are protesting
outside the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in Lower Hutt, to draw
attention to questionable connections between the CAA,
Timberlands and its PR company Shandwick over a case in which a
Native Forest Action treesitter's life was put seriously at risk
by the actions of a helicopter pilot.

Native Forest Action will deliver a letter to CAA chief executive
officer Kevin Ward. The letter demands that the CAA take
responsibility for re-investigating the issue given the evidence
brought to light in Secrets and Lies, a book published on Tuesday
by Nicky Hager and Bob Burton.

"And we want the Authority to publicly apologise to Native
Forest Action and to Jenny Coleman whose life was put at risk,
for the way it conducted its original investigation," said
NFA spokesperson Dean Baigent-Mercer.

"We are also calling for an independent inquiry into the
objectionable way the CAA conducted this very serious case, which
we believe to be biased."

Secrets and Lies contains documentary evidence from leaked
Timberlands and Shandwick correspondence that the CAA inquiry was
influenced by the lobbying efforts of Shandwick.

"I spoke to Martyn Gosling from Civil Aviation.... I got the
strong feeling that there are not going to be any problems for
you from this inquiry. I was also told that we have to remain
silent on this for the time being," Rob McGregor, Shandwick
fax to Timberlands, 8 July 1997, stamped 'CONFIDENTIAL'. (pp.
59-60)

The incident, which led to the Native Forest Action complaint to
CAA, took place on 16 April 1997 when Timberlands launched an
aggressive attack named 'Operation Alien' aimed at clearing the
treesitting protesters out of Charleston Forest. Heli-Harvest,
Timberlands' heli-logging contractor repeatedly rammed a 5-tonne
log, attached to the chopper by a rope, into a treetop platform.
Native Forest Action member Jenny Coleman was beneath the tree,
preparing to climb, when the tree-top assault started. She ran
for her life, as debris and sticks rained down upon her. Her
screams were heard and noted in Timberlands' staff diary:
"RH, CH and Mat hear woman screaming on ridge 30 metres from
platform..."(p. 58)

The CAA eventually concluded (after lobbying by Shandwick) that
'reasonable' steps had been taken to clear the area, and accepted
a version of events from the pilot which contradicted all other
evidence.

"We feel our complaint was unfairly prejudiced by a
shonky investigation and Shandwick's lobbying to get Timberlands
off the hook in this. As a result Timberlands and Heli-Harvest
have not yet been made to take responsibility for their appalling
actions," said Mr Baigent-Mercer.

"We're sure that if it was a family that could have been
killed rather than a forest protester this case would have been
treated completely differently from the beginning."

"We are extremely angry and upset that Jen's life was put
seriously at risk and the obvious conclusions of the
investigation were swept under the carpet."

The protest and letter delivery will take place from 8-9am in
front of commuter traffic at the Civil Aviation Authority,
Aviation House, cnr Market Grove and Woburn Road. _

Native Forest Action
Media release
Tuesday 24 August 1999

TIMBERLANDS AND TONY RYALL: THE TAIL IS WAGGING THE DOG

SOE Minister Tony Ryall's announcement today that Timberlands
beech logging scheme has got the go-ahead shows the government
bending to the political campaign that has been waged by
Timberlands and its PR companies over the last three years.

"What this says to the public is that the over a million
dollars that Timberlands has spent over the past two years on
public relations is the price it took for buying the support of
Tony Ryall and Jenny Shipley for the beech logging scheme,"
said Native Forest Action spokesperson, Dean Baigent-Mercer.

"The government has today guaranteed that native forest
logging is an election issue. It has ignored three years of
campaigning, and 10,000 submissions against the beech scheme and
it leaves the public no option but to decide the issue at the
election," said Mr Baigent-Mercer.

"The public should watch with scepticism as the arguments
Tony Ryall uses to justify the beech scheme mirror the PR lines
that have now been exposed in the book, 'Secrets and Lies'."

Speaking at the annual ECO conference held over the weekend, the
Minister of Conservation, Dr Nick Smith confirmed that the
government plans to privatise Timberlands West Coast Ltd - with
the feeble reassurance that this wouldn't happen "before the
election".

"West Coasters have been sold a public relations dream of
hundreds of new West Coast jobs by Timberlands and the government
with the beech forest logging scheme. In reality, the government
couldn't wait to get the beech logging begun to make the
controversial company more attractive to investers", said
Native Forest Action spokesperson Dean Baigent-Mercer.

"If Timberlands is privatised the West Coast will lose their
native forests and exotic plantations providing work for only a
small handful of local jobs, while the vast majority of timber is
exported as whole logs to other regions and overseas."

"There is a way out however: to negotiate a regional
development package which will leave native forests unlogged,
maintaining biodiversity and utilised for the tourist industry,
and transfer the control of the state-owned pine plantations to
local councils who would ensure West Coasters get the most
employment out of the deal." "The privatisation of
Timberlands would ensure the least possible work for West
Coasters. As it is, a large percentage of West Coast pine, rimu
and beech is being exported to other regions without the local
region benefitting much for having these resources
extracted."

Native Forest Action has been aware of plans to sell Timberlands
after three Japanese companies were approached by the company
last year.

"Native Forest Action wonders when and if the Timberlands
front grounp Coast Action Native (CAN) will speak out against the
plans to privatise Timberlands".

For more information contact: Dean Baigent-Mercer
04-383-5168 or 025-2085-288

Controversial SOE Timberlands West Coast Ltd have again announced
they will not be paying a dividend to the government for logging
publicly-owned native rainforests and pine plantations. The
decision is published in Timberlands annual report tabled in
parliament this week.

"For 10 years the state have been heavily subsidising
Timberlands to clearfell and 'overcut' our rainforests. This
period has seen Timberlands paying between $3 and $15 for
centuries old native trees. If they couldn't make a financial
return to the state in the past ten years by logging in the
cheapest and most environmentally destructive way, then the state
will never see a dividend," said Native Forest Action
spokesperson Dean Baigent-Mercer.

"Any possible returns have been unscrupulously and
immediately pumped into Timberlands' public relations budget
aimed at lobbying politicians and buying local West Coast support
through sponsorship to support the continuation and expansion of
their native forest logging".

"Timberlands appears to be the Prime Minister, Minister of
SOE and Minister of Conservation's favourite charity - all of
them have have bent over backwards to condone or deny Timberlands
unethical anti-environmental public relations campaign in current
weeks. It seems Timberlands is the government's spoilt bratty
child and no amount of misbehaving and embarressment will result
in appropriate disipline", said Mr Baigent-Mercer.

"Since 1990 Timberlands have only ever paid one 'special
divided' - $600,000 last year - and only because the Treasurer
leant heavily on them. The dividend was financed by selling a
subsiduary spagnum moss company. Offically they have never paid a
cent in dividend to the government for their destructive native
forest logging."

For further information contact: Dean Baigent-Mercer
383-5168 or 025-2085-288

Todays announcement of Labour's policy on the West Coast native
forests currently being logged by Timberlands, has been received
with strong approval from Native Forest Action.

"Labours'policy has the integrity of having both the native
forests and West Coast employment best interests at heart",
said Native Forest Action spokesperson Dean Baigent-Mercer,
"It will protect West Coast jobs from Timberlands' otherwise
looming privatisation by National and Act and protect the
endangered wildlife from habitat destruction by Timberlands'
chainsaws".

"Labour can enter the new millenium with a clear conscience
on the issue of logging state-owned native forests if it becomes
the new government. This issue has been a festering wound between
conservationists and the Crown since 1971. It has taken guts for
Labour to promote this outcome which will see both local
employment and our biodiversity benefit".

"Despite all the secrets and lies surrounding Timberlands'
logging of West Coast native forests, Labour has steered it's way
through the grubby PR hype to show visionary leadership and a
solid meaningful policy".

"By ending the logging of the native forests and providing
the local community with a sincere regional development package
intending to create local jobs - aimed at no nett job losses -
both conservation and the West Coast community are the
winners".

For further information contact: Dean Baigent-Mercer
04-383-5168 or 025-2085-288

Native Forest Action today shrugged off the hysterical reaction
to yesterdays announcement that Labour would end West Coast
native logging if it wins the election.

"The hysterical reaction from Jim Sutton and Damien O'Connor
over Labour's policy decision to end Timberlands' West Coast
native forest logging is totally predictable because they have
long been a small anti-conservation clique in the Labour
caucus," said Dean Baigent-Mercer spokesperson for Native
Forest Action, "Despite their tantrums, public opinion is
overwhelmingly in support of this unnecessary rainforest logging
ending".

"Contrary to recent media depiction, messages of celebration
and appreciation have been flowing into conservation groups from
all over the country - including the West Coast - thrilled with
Labour's decision".

"The claim by the Furniture Association of NZ that the end
of Timberlands' native logging will result in 4,000 job losses is
ridiculous and totally unsubstanciated. The Furniture Association
of NZ have been cultivated as lobbying allies by Timberlands and
their PR company Shandwick over the past 5 months to lobby Labour
as a third party".

"Last year Timberlands claimed that an end to their logging
would end in 100 job losses, then 200, then 500. A few months
ago, along with the Furniture Association of NZ, the story had
changed again: this time 2,000 job losses. And now 4,000. We
strongly suspect these figures are unsubstanciated and are being
used to whip up hysteria and anti-Labour feeling".

"New Zealand has many plantations of specialist timbers such
as eucalyptus, macrocarpa, black walnut, and douglas fir which
have been under-used awaiting the day when native logging is
phased back".

"Voters finally have a clear choice: if National/ACT
win the election West Coast native logging will expand; if
opposition parties win, the logging will end".

For further comment contact: Dean Baigent-Mercer
04-383-5168 or 025-2085-288

Politicians continue to be the pawns of Timberlands' public
relations manipulation by attacking Labour for its policy
announcement to end Timberlands' native forest logging on the
West Coast, says Native Forest Action.

"National, ACT and NZ First are marching to Timberlands
rainforest logging agenda and in the process are defending the
indefensible," said Native Forest Action spokesperson Dean
Baigent-Mercer.

"National, ACT and NZ First are more influenced by
Timberlands' PR campaign than national public opinion and are
supporting the despicable secrets and lies of Timberlands."

"The hysteria whipped up on the West Coast by CAN,
Timberlands' front group, against Labour's policy announcement is
being used as a political football by ACT and National."

"Labour's native forest logging policy is a win for
conservation by protecting the forests and a win for West Coast
employment with the formation of a local trust which will manage
the $68 million pine estate keeping local people employed. This
is in stark contrast to National/ACT policy where Timberlands and
the cutting rights to our native forests would be privatised,
meaning degraded forests, and few West Coast jobs."

For further information contact: Dean Baigent-Mercer
383-5168 or 025-2085-288

Locals supported Cullen during Coast visit
>
> The News, 13 September 1999 failed to report the fact that
19 locals attended Michael Cullen's arrival at Westport Airport
on Monday in support of Labour's policy to stop native logging on
public land in exchange for an economic development
package. "The paper implied that all of the 50 people
who greeted Mr Cullen were opposed to Labour's plans" said
Peter Russell, Native Forest Action's West Coast spokesperson.
>
> The supporters involved local members of Buller Conservation
Group and
> independent locals not aligned with any particular
organisation. "All of the
> supporters live in the Buller and most have lived on the
Coast for decades.
> Some
> have been on the Coast all their lives and included fifth
and sixth generation
> Coasters, one being a former coal miner." Native
Forest Action has learned
> that a
> similar group of people from the Greymouth District had
arranged to meet with
> Mr
> Cullen in Greymouth, but the contemptible behaviour of some
of the protestors
> in
> Greymouth caused the meeting to be cancelled.
>
> "The independant Buller supporters presented a letter
to Mr Cullen which
> stated
> that 'there are plenty of people on the Coast who are
delighted with Labour's
> decision to end the logging of publicly owned native forests
in return for an
> economic development package for the West Coast'" said
Mr Russell.
>
> Some of BCG spokesman Terry Sumner's comments were mentioned
in the
> paper. Although Dave Hawes of Reefton sent The News a
statement on behalf of
> the independant supporters, none of its comments were
contained in the paper.
> "Their statement outlined concerns such as Timberlands'
lack of committment to
> the Buller's economy and the likelihood of Timberlands being
privatised by
> government. It also questioned Coast Action Network's
motives and mentioned
> concern about being misrepresented by "loud-mouths who
have a habit of
> implying
> that they speak for all West Coasters'" said Mr
Russell.
>
> "The presence of the supporters could not have gone
unnoticed to reporters at
> the
> small airport terminal because they cheered and clapped at
Cullen's comments
> and held placards and banners with slogans such as
"jobs, not logging",
> "c'mon
> Damien (O'Connor), get in behind!" and "Shipley
kills kiwis". It is easy to
> get the
> impression that the paper deliberately avoided mentioning
the presence of
> locals
> who support Labour's policy to help maintain the myth that
West Coasters
> generally want native logging to continue" said Mr
Russell. Native Forest
> Action
> hopes The News will be more accurate with its reporting in
future.
>
> Peter Russell
> Naive Forest Action
> 03/789-8734